Hype Femme

HYPE Magazine Interviews Boogy Maboi For #HipHopHerstory

This month Castle Lite really shook the game up when they launched their #HipHopHerstory campaign that celebrates the valuable contributions that women in hip hop have added to forward culture over the years. The launch also announced the upcoming all-female Castle Lite Hip Hop Herstory event that will be taking place on the 8th of September at the Gallagher Convention Centre. So yo show our love to all women out there that continue to conquer & build up the world one adversary at a time, HYPE had a chat to one of SA’s most sought-after stylists, Lethabo ‘Boogy’ Maboi, to find out more about what she thinks makes Castle Lite’s #HipHopHerstory campaign & upcoming concert so significant & what defines her.

In your opinion what makes this Castle Lite #HipHopHerstory campaign and concert so important with regards women empowerment?

At a time when there’s a strong focus on the many issues that women are facing it’s a much needed breath of fresh air to have an initiative that encourages women to share their success stories and highlight our contributions as opposed to obstacles. The campaign creates an opportunity to get in touch with the female contributors who are unsung founders of this culture we love as well as put a spotlight on female talent currently on the scene who may fall under the male dominated radar. What I love most is that the campaign is all hip hop art encompassing and includes art, fashion and dance important mediums of expression in hip hop occupied by many women yet at times overlooked.

It’s no secret that women within hip hop culture have always had to work twice as hard to get the recognition they deserve. Now within your industry, what have been some of the challenges you’ve had to overcome solely because of your gender?

Hip hop is still a very much male dominated game and being the prominent go to stylists for South Africa and Africa’s hip hop artists while being a female has required me to hold myself to the highest standard in order to gain the amount of respect I’ve earned in the game. I have to always remain the most professional person on set despite how familiar I am with my clients to set a tone.

Now what do you think are the qualities of a strong woman? How do you define HER?

A strong women in my opinion is someone who is Dedicated, Compassionate, Kind, Fearless, Brave and Resourceful. She is a solution among-st problems and a constant supply of wonder.

How does having an all-female concert make you feel? What was your first reaction when you heard the news?

This campaign is so important for female creative energy and couldn’t have come at a better time. I feel really blessed to be able to part of something that celebrates our unique contribution as women in music. My initial reaction was sheer excitement and gratitude to Castle Lite for finally putting women center stage.

What impact or message would you like South Africa and the world to embedded within themselves through this #HipHopHerstory campaign?

The message I want South Africans and the world to take from this campaign is that we women in South Africa have been integral in every major sector of this country in more way than history has documented and to encourage us to always dig deeper for information.

What defines Boogy?

My beliefs, my heart and my legacy.

The Castle Lite’s #HipHopHerstory takes place on 8 September at the Gallagher Convention Centre and you can get your tickets right here.